Page 34 of The Dark Rising
But at what cost?
I understand his need to get to Sarah, even in my anger and hurt, I understand it’s driving him crazy, just like my need to get to Kade. I would have never asked him to do something like he just did to me though, not the way he did it. It’s why I didn’t try and stop Darius sooner when he was hitting him, some part of me knew he deserved it, wanting him to hurt like I am. I will come to regret not trying to stop him sooner, but right now I don’t. Though I have no idea why Darius did what he did, it’s probably just an excuse to hit him, he hasn’t liked Josh since he first saw him, so it wouldn’t surprise me.
“Can we talk for a second?” he asks, but I pick up my pack and walk by him.
“We need to go, Josh, make sure you have everything we need.” I walk down the steps without another word to him, rucksack over my shoulder as the others gather near the front door.
“All good?” Hudson asks, eyeing me with concern. Don’t break now, Rhea.
“As I’ll ever be, got everything?”
Colten lifts his own pack. “Yeah, as much as we can carry anyway.”
“I’ve taken some extra things I think we might need.” Anna shows me her bulging rucksack and a smaller one she has in her other hand. “You never know what we may need.” She smiles, her curls now in twin braids, but I can’t muster up a smile in return.
“Are you sure about this?” Taylor asks me, and I shrug. I’m not sure about this at all. It has been months since we were last in Eridian, since we were at Wolvorn Castle, and nothing has changed. We don’t have our pack, we don’t have Sarah and we don’t have Kade. We need help, and Gods dammit, trust it to be the Elites who could be that help. If we have to begrudgingly try and seek help from the Elites, then so be it. I just don’t trust them, I don’t trust Darius, but I can’t wait any longer.
“I don’t think we have a choice,” Seb murmurs, tightening his own rucksack and throwing it over his shoulder.
I hear Josh come down the steps behind me. “Time to go then. Are you all sure about coming?”
They nod and we leave Belldame’s home. The paths are silent as we walk over wooden bridges, the only sign of life is ourselves as everyone at Witches Rest sleeps. I hope to come back here soon, but I have no idea what awaits us at Vokheim. The thought has chills trickling down my spine. Are we making a mistake? This could be a trap, a guise to get me to the Highers.
We soon reach the mist and we make our way through it, my heart rate kicking up a notch at what we are about to do. After over two months here at Witches Rest, we are no closer to getting our pack back on our own.
And I want my pack back, I want blood to be spilled, and I want to be free.
I pat my pocket and feel the port stone there, making sure we have a means to escape if we need to.
Belldame waits for us just outside of the mist as the Elites stay further away from the entrance, eyes on us all as we approach her. I can feel Darius’s stare on me, his gaze roaming and searching and I hate it. Hate that he can even look at me, and that I canfeelit.
“Come here, child,” Belldame calls, opening her arms for me. I go to her, and let her wrap her arms around me this time. I squeeze her gently. I’ll miss the woman for sure. Her stories about my mom and her knowledge about all things have kept me somewhat sane since we arrived. “Be careful.” I nod. “You have what I gave you?” Another nod. “Good, when you need to, don’t hesitate to use it.”
“I won’t,” I assure her.
She reaches for my face, wrinkled hands on each cheek. “Your mother would be so proud of you.” I swallow hard as my eyes sting, but I keep the tears at bay. “Do not fret. I have no doubt this is the path you must now take.”
“I’ll miss you,” I whisper, and I will. She’s become like a grandmother to me in the short time we have known each other.
“Dear child, it’s not forever, but for now.” She releases me, and I give her one last hesitant smile before I turn and walk toward the Elites, letting the others say their goodbyes.
I keep my head high as I reach them, but I can’t look any of them in the eye, feeling ashamed of them seeing the marks on my body. I notice Darius’s fingers twitch at his side, the sound of his teeth gnashing, but I still don’t look at him. We don’t speak, just stay silent as the rest of my pack trickles forward.
“Ready?” Leo asks us.
“Sure,” Colten mutters, staying close to Hudson.
Damian pulls out a port stone and we gather around. I step up to Anna, resting my hand on her shoulder lightly, and she gives me a nod just before the feeling of being squeezed tightly, goes through me.
Now or never.
We land on hard stone, the flickering lights of torches bringing light dots to my vision before it clears. Glancing around quickly in a defensive stance, I see that we are in some type of hallway. I shiver at its coldness. It’s bare, there’s nothing on the walls apart from the torch holders.
“This way,” Zaide grunts, and we follow as the Elites head down the long hallway and my nerves start to settle in.
What if they are taking us to a dungeon? I feel for the port stone in my pocket, making sure it’s still there.
“We are in the west wing, no other Elites, apart from us and a few others, are allowed this way. The less they know about your presence for now, the better,” Damian says.
